doi:10.7916/3vzj-1038Oral history interview with Melissa Oakes, 2020Oakes, Melissa, 1979-oral historiesmixed materialExecutivesCOVID-19 Pandemic, 2020-COVID-19 (Disease)--Social AspectsEpidemics--Social AspectsWork-life balanceFood reliefFund raisingIndians of North America--New York (State)United States Race relations 21st centuryMohawk Nation at AkwesasneOakes, Melissa, 1979-American Indian Community House (New York, N.Y.)In the first session, Melissa Oakes describes her experiences during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, including her journey home to Akwesane from Las Vegas, where she had been attending a conference. Most of the session focuses on her then-virtual service to New York City's Indigenous community as executive director of American Indian Community House (AICH). In this second session, Oakes analyzes the challenges facing her as director of the American Indian Community House, including lack of support from people in positions of power. Other topics addressed include the Manhatta-fund, COVID relief boxes, collaborations with other Indigenous organizations, Climate Justice Through Racial Justice action, and her daughters. She also discusses issues around granting entities allocating funds to impostors or diluting parameters of funds for Indigenous groups